On twitter the other day, someone mentioned that it was hard to find a great bourbon not made in Kentucky. My first impulse was to object, but I got to thinking about it, and I couldn't come up with a non-Kentucky bourbon that I have really enjoyed. Granted, my experience is fairly limited, but any recommendations?

cas

11-15-2011, 15:57

Most of the current non-Kentucky bourbons are produced by small craft distillers. Which means they haven't been aged very long, and age counts for a lot in terms of adding character and making a bourbon interesting. I picked up some Leopold Bros a few weeks back, from Colorado, and it's nice, but still very young and lacks the depth of an older whiskey. If they can put enough away for long enough it could be quite good, but it's tough to produce an 8 year old bourbon really quickly.
Craig

sailor22

11-15-2011, 17:23

IMHO the very very small batch of 18yr old barrel strength (138.6proof) Bourbon currently sold in the Bowman gift shop is a truly great Bourbon. I was told it was distilled twice in Ky. and once in Virginia at Bowman, then aged in Virginia. So it was 2/3 made in Ky. and 100% aged in Va.

StraightNoChaser

11-15-2011, 19:39

Howdy Keith, good to spot you on SB.com!

White Dog

11-16-2011, 08:06

Every now and then I find some dusty Barclay's that are quite good. Distilled in Peoria.

Bourbon Boiler

11-16-2011, 15:32

The Governor's Reserve version of WH Harrison is pretty good, bottled at barrel proof from LDI. It's not a great value, but a good drink. That's the first that pops into my head. I reacted like you, I thought the statement was way off, until I tried to find counter-examples.

sku

11-16-2011, 16:05

A.H. Hirsch from Pennsylvania is probably the best non-KY bourbon I've had.

I also agree on some of the bourbons from the Bowman distillery in Virginia (though most of that is quasi-KY bourbon, distilled once in KY and again in VA).

There is some LDI bourbon out there that isn't bad, but I wouldn't consider any of it great.

ethangsmith

11-17-2011, 20:07

IF you can find it, any of your old PA distilled whiskies are pretty fine products. Hirsch, Michter's, Old Overholt rye, Sam Thompson rye, Rittenhouse rye, Old Hickory,........ all good stuff!